Set of four AAT Ice Flowers gummed stamps

This set of stamps contains all four stamps from the AAT Ice Flowers stamp issue.

At nearly six million square kilometres, the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is the largest part of the continent of Antarctic claimed by any nation. The region was placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933 and its three year-round stations, Mawson, Davis and Casey, are administered by the Hobart-based Australian Antarctic Division.

The ice flowers or ice ferns represented on these stamps are the names given to the intricate ice patterns that form on glass at AAT stations throughout the winter months. These icy wonders are created when humid air meets a sub-zero glass pane or window. As winter temperatures frequently fall below -40 ° C, they are a common occurrence in Australia’s stations. The icy patterns seem to grow like plants and resemble ferns or flowers, hence their name. Dust and other matter present on the glass can change the way these formations occur. For instance, droplets of water melted by the sun on the inside of a double-glazed window can be transformed into flowery marvels by ice forming overnight.

Technical details

Issue date: 20 September 2016

Issue withdrawal date: 31 March 2017

FDI withdrawal date: 18 October 2016

Denominations: 2 x $1, 1 x $2, 1 x $3

Stamp illustration:Sharon Rodziewicz

Product design: Sharon Rodziewicz

Printer (gummed): RA Printing

Paper (gummed): Tullis Russell Red Phosphor

Printing process: Offset lithography

Stamp size: 35mm x 35mm

Minisheet size: 160mm x 70mm

Perforations: 14.28x14.28

Sheet layout: Module of 50

FDI postmark: Kingston TAS 7050

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